Recovery article

Step 11 of AA: Prayer and Meditation — Improving Your Conscious Contact

Step 11 asks you to deepen your relationship with your higher power through prayer and meditation. You don't have to be religious to make this work.

Article summary

Step 11 asks you to deepen your relationship with your higher power through prayer and meditation. You don't have to be religious to make this work.

Key topics include Step 11: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.", Prayer in Step 11, Meditation in Step 11.

What this article covers

  • Step 11: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."
  • Prayer in Step 11
  • Meditation in Step 11
  • Building the Practice

Frequently asked questions

What is Step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous?

Step 11 of AA is: "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." It is a daily practice of turning inward — through prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection — to maintain your connection with the source of guidance you identified in Step 3.

How do you meditate for Step 11 without being religious?

Step 11 meditation does not require a religious framework. Breath awareness, body scanning, guided meditation, or a quiet walk in nature all qualify. The goal is stillness: creating space between stimulus and response. Research confirms that regular meditation reduces anxiety, improves emotional regulation, and decreases cravings.

What is the Step 11 prayer in AA?

The Step 11 prayer in the Big Book asks to know God's will and to be given the power to carry it out. For non-religious people, this can be translated as: "Help me act according to my best values today. Give me the clarity to know what is right and the courage to do it." The words matter less than the intention.